SPECIALIST PROBATE SOLICITOR – TAKING CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONE'S LEGACY
Probate Solicitor Minehead – Estate Administration Services
Probate and administration services for all types of estate. We provide expert guidance, fixed fees, and regular updates – so you always know where things stand.
Speak to specialist probate solicitor Rebecca Padgett
Find out if our service is right for you. Arrange a free 15 minute initial phone consultation to help you understand your options and decide how you would like to proceed.
Being an Executor and dealing with an estate can feel overwhelming, whatever the size or complexity. There’s paperwork, legal jargon, and sometimes tricky family dynamics to manage. You want to do the right thing, but may wonder what to do for the best.
You might feel you should administer the estate yourself, but worry about the time it will take, making a mistake, or saying the wrong thing to beneficiaries. Our estate administration service lets you fulfil your role as Executor while we take care of the complex legal work.
When you instruct R J Padgett, you’ll deal directly with Rebecca. Her legal expertise and kind, down-to-earth personality will put you at ease. You can relax, knowing that everything is being done properly and to a high standard.
Why choose R J Padgett for probate and estate administration?
Rebecca Padgett, Solicitor, TEP, FCILEx, LLB (Hons), ILFM (Dip)
You get a bespoke service delivered by the firm’s principal, solicitor Rebecca Padgett.
Personal service from Rebecca
You will have direct contact with Rebecca. She has a wealth of experience and will get to know your case inside out. Rebecca will personally progress the estate through to completion.
Fixed fees agreed in advance
You will know exactly what our fees will be before we start, so there are no surprise add-ons or increases later on.
Help whether the estate is simple or more complex
We handle everything for you, from straightforward estates to those with properties, investments, Inheritance Tax, or possible claims. If you have already started the process, we can still help.
Regular updates and clear communication
We will keep you informed at each step and provide straightforward explanations, so you always know what’s happening.
Sensitive, respectful and discreet
We understand there may be emotions and family dynamics involved. Our approach is calm, pragmatic and considered, with a focus on reducing stress and achieving the right outcome.
Speak to Rebecca – arrange a free 15 minute initial consultation:
01643 802 263 · enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Speak to our friendly team:
01643 802 263
enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Fixed-Price Probate and Estate Administration Services
How much does probate and estate administration cost?
| Obtain Grant of Probate, typically: £1,200 + £240 VAT | £1,440 |
| Full estate administration, from: £2,750 + £550 VAT | £3,300 |
| International probate services, reseal/obtain grant: from £2,000 + £400 VAT | £2,400 |
| Transfer of ownership or sale of property, additional fee, quoted separately: | £ tba |
| Identification – we are required to confirm identity, per person: £30 + £6 VAT | £36 |
| Probate Registry Fee – HM Courts and Tribunals fee: £526 no VAT | £526 |
Find out if our service is right for you. Arrange a free 15 minute initial phone consultation to help you understand your options and decide how you would like to proceed.
For a full breakdown of Probate costs and additional fees, please see our detailed pricing page: Probate and Estate Administration Price and Services Information ›
HOW IT WORKS
Book Your Appointment
Call 01643 802263 or Email enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Meetings are held at our Porlock Office or by video call. Home visits can be made by arrangement.
Alternatively you can arrange a free, no-obligation, initial phone consultation with Rebecca. You can discuss your options and decide if our service is right for you. Request a Call Back ›
Your meeting with Rebecca
Rebecca will talk through the situation in detail and explain everything in plain English.
You will gain clarity on exactly what Rebecca will do and how much it will cost. She can also estimate timescale and advise on any other considerations.
Estate administration process
Rebecca and her team take care of every aspect of the process. You can be confident everything is handled properly: valuing assets, applying for probate (if needed), completing the Inheritance Tax return, and managing beneficiaries.
We’ll keep you updated as the administration progresses towards completion.
For more information – get in touch with our friendly team:
01643 802 263 · enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Speak to our friendly team:
01643 802 263
enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Rebecca Padgett, TEP, FCILEx, LLB (Hons), ILFM (Dip)
About Rebecca Padgett
Rebecca started working in probate and estate administration over 18 years ago. In that time she has helped many families with estates of all sizes – some straightforward, others rather more complex.
It was Rebecca’s long-held ambition to build a law firm focused solely on probate, estate administration, Wills, LPAs and other deeply personal areas of law. R J Padgett is the result: a practice where families can receive specialist advice delivered with care, clarity and respect.
Rebecca’s approach blends experience and technical knowledge with practicality and pragmatism. She also believes this work calls for real sensitivity and kindness. Many people say they find talking to Rebecca very reassuring.
If you’ve begun the process but feel stuck, or you’re worried about Inheritance Tax or claims on the estate, we can help.
We take care of everything: probate applications, investments, property, tax, beneficiaries – whatever is required.
Call 01643 802 263 Email enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Probate and Administration of Estate FAQs
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What do I need to do when someone has died?
When someone dies it can feel like there's an overwhelming amount to do – but it doesn’t all have to be done immediately. You can pace yourself.
The first priority is to register the death and organise the funeral. When you register the death, you can use the 'Tell Us Once' service. It notifies government and local authority organisations. (See Tell Us Once ›).
If there is a house left unoccupied as a result of the death, you should contact the insurers to let them know.
Those are the priority jobs. You also want to look out for a copy of their Will or any clues as to its whereabouts.
You can begin reviewing their paperwork to see what needs attention. This includes bank accounts, investments, pensions, life assurance, utilities, and more.
If you intend to administer the Estate, you can start to notify the companies when you have a death certificate. Otherwise, you may wish to telephone a probate solicitor to decide whether you would like them to administer the estate for you.
Do I have to use the solicitors who made the Will to get probate?
No, if you are an executor you do not have to use the solicitors who made the Will to get probate or administer the estate.
The Executors are responsible for administering the Estate. They decide who they would like to administer it.
However, the firm of solicitors who prepared the Will may also have been appointed as Executors.
If you are a beneficiary of the Estate, or also named as an Executor, and would prefer the solicitors not to act as Executors you can ask them to renounce.
The Executors need to check that there is no compelling reason why they were appointed as Executors. If there is none, they should renounce.
The firm of solicitors will probably charge a fee to prepare the renunciation paperwork but this shouldn’t be more than £400 - £500 plus VAT.
How do I know if I need probate?
The requirement for Probate is determined by what assets the deceased had. When you notify the companies that hold assets (eg a bank) of the death, they will tell you whether they need a Grant of Probate or not.
If you contact a solicitor they will usually be able to tell you if you need a Grant of Probate. They will need to know what assets are in the Estate, so have a list of the deceased’s assets at hand when you call them.
A good rule of thumb is; the higher the value of the assets, the more likely probate will be required. An interest in a property will always require probate, unless it is jointly owned as joint tenants.
How long does probate take?
Obtaining a grant of probate typically takes between 2 and 6 months.
Part of the timeframe is taken up by establishing the value of the estate as at the date of death. Gathering this information takes time.
If the estate is large it may be subject to Inheritance Tax. There may also be more assets to value. An Inheritance Tax Account needs to be submitted and Inheritance Tax paid. HMRC take five weeks to issue the receipt for the Inheritance Tax. This adds an extra five weeks on to the process.
What happens if there is no Will?
If there is no Will, the intestacy rules operate. They specify who inherits the estate in the absence of directions set out in a Will. The people who are entitled to the estate are also entitled to administer it.
The intestacy rules follow marriage/civil partnership and the blood line. There are various categories, and if there is no one in a certain category, it goes down to the next.
Any property that is jointly owned automatically passes on death to the surviving co-owner. This happens regardless of what a Will or the intestacy rules say.
This does not apply to a property that is owned as tenants in common. In this case, each share is distinct from the other. It goes to a person's estate, not to a surviving co-owner.
Questions about how our probate and estate administration service works
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I don’t live in the Minehead or Somerset area. Do I have to come into the office?
No. While we are based in Porlock, near Minehead, Somerset, we regularly work with clients who live elsewhere.
Meetings can be held by video call or telephone, documents can be sent securely by email or post.
We can keep you updated by whatever method you prefer.
If you’d like to meet us in person, we can set up a meeting at our Porlock office. However, visiting isn’t necessary for us to assist with probate and estate administration.
Can you take over if I’m not happy with my current probate solicitor?
Yes. If you feel you are not receiving the service you expected from your current firm, please get in touch.
We can discuss the situation with you and explain your options. We will review what stage the estate is at, and confirm the next steps and our fees.
If you decide to move to R J Padgett, we can arrange for your file to be transferred to us and correspond with the other firm.
What information do you need from me to get started?
At your first meeting, it is helpful (but not essential) to have:
- The Will (if there is one)
- The death certificate
- Any paperwork about property, bank accounts, investments or pensions
- Contact details of beneficiaries and any other Executors
If you don’t have all of this to hand, don’t worry. We can deal with everything in due course.
You can see detailed information on our probate and administration of estate services – including worked price examples – here: Probate and Estate Administration Price and Services Information ›
DIY v. using a probate solicitor
Thinking of handling probate yourself?
You can apply for probate and administer an estate yourself. For some very simple estates, this may be appropriate. However, many Executors tell us they hadn’t realised how much was involved until they were in the middle of it.
Common issues include:
- Not being sure how to interpret a Will clause, and worrying about making a mistake
- Uncertainty about Inheritance Tax or reporting to HMRC
- Worry about the Executor’s personal liability if something is missed
- Estates including property, investments or business assets
- Concerns about overlooking something, family disputes, or potential claims against the estate
Using an experienced, regulated, and insured lawyer can help you avoid these problems and give you greater peace of mind.
If you’ve started the process yourself and are now unsure of how to proceed, we can step in at any stage. We can also help if you want to change your probate lawyer.
Not sure what’s best for you and your family?
Choosing to get professional help with probate or an estate can seem like a big decision. It helps to have all the facts before you commit. A short initial discussion with us can make things much clearer.
We’ll talk through the estate, explain your options in plain English, and outline our fees. There’s no commitment or obligation – it’s simply an opportunity to discover the best way forward for you and your family.
Get in touch with our friendly team:
01643 802 263 · enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Regulation
R J Padgett Limited is authorised by CILEx Regulation for Probate.
Authorisation number 3002949.
Information Hub
Visit our information hub for more details about our services, including:
• CILEx Regulation Authorisation & the CILEx Regulation Compensation Fund • Professional Indemnity Insurance • Price and services information • Complaints Procedure • Terms of Business • Privacy Notice • Interest Policy
Visit the Information Hub by clicking here ›